Nonskid device for automobile wheels



June 16, 1931. c, c p 1,810,129

NONSKID DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILE WHEELS Filed July 21, 1950 lnvenTo'r. 4 Chofles E..C|c1pp YWWIW AI'fys.

Patented June 16, 1931 g T PATENT OFFICE CHARLES E. CLAPI", OF HINGHAM, MASSACHTISE'ITS v NONSKID DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILE WHEELS Application filed l'uly 21, 1930. Serial No. 469,423.

This invention relates to a non-skid device to engage the road surface when the device for automobile wheels and has for its object is in its operative position. I to provide a novel device which is intended to The holder to which the non-skid memtake the place of the non-skid chains that are her is pivoted is herein shown aslocated becommonly used and which is so constructed tween two spokes of thewheel adjacent the 55 that it can remain permanently on thewheel rim 3. This holder comprises two side memand can be easily and'quickly thrown from bers 7 which are also shown as being made inoperative to operative position and vice of wire although they may be made of any versa. 7 suitable material. I 1 In order to give an understanding of the The two side members are each bent to fit 60 invention I have illustrated in the drawings partially around the two adjacent spokes 2 a selected embodiment thereof which will as shown at 8. These two side members are now be described after which the novel feaconnected on one side of the wheel bymeans tures will be pointed out in the appended of a plate member 9 which is rigidly secured claims. 1 I to the side members 7 and which is shown as 65 In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a fragmentary being provided with a positioning flange 10 view of an automobile wheel equipped with adapted to engage the rim 3 and thereby help my improved non-skid device; to position the holder. The inner ends of the Fig. 2 is an enlarged section on the line sidemembers? are connected by a connecting 2-2, Fig. 1; p 7 member 11 in the form of a plate through Fig. 3 is an enlarged section on the line which the ends of theside members extend, 33, Fig. 1; said plate being held in position by nuts 12. Fig. 4 is an enlarged section on the line The pivotal connection between the nonr H, Fig. 1; V skid member and the holder is one which Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5, Fig. 4. not only allows the non-skid member to be In the drawings 1 indicates generally a swung from its operative position against portion of an automobile wheel which is the side of the tire into its inoperative posiprovided with the usual spokes 2, rim 3 and tion against thespokes but which also allows vj tire 4. My, improved non-skid device 1s 1n the non-skid member to yield bodily in a the nature of a non-skid member pivotally radial direction. As herein shown the outer mounted to the wheel adjacentthe rim thereend of each side member 7 is bent upwardly of and adapted to be swung from inoperaas shown at 13 and then laterally as shown tive position in which it is lying against the at 14 and then downwardly as shown at 15 1 spokes into an operative position wherein it thereby forming a loop. y lies against the side of the tire and is in po- Situated within each ofthese loops is a sition to perform its non-skid function. spring member 16 and enclosing each loop The invention contemplates the use of any and spring member is vacap 17 Each cap desired number of these non-skid devices on 17 is slotted on one side as shown at 18 and j each wheel but usually four or live will be each cap is provided at its lower end with sufficient. In order to simplify the drawings, an inturned lip 19 which underlies the end however, only one is shown herein but it will of the downturned portion15 and thereby be understood that as many other non-skid holds the cap in place. I V members may be used oneach wheel as is The inner ends of .the'arms 5 of thenon- I desired. skid member arebent outwardly as shown My non-skid device. is formed with two at 20. These portions 20 constitute trunnions side arms 5 which may conveniently be made or pivot portions on which the non-skid of wire and which are pivoted at-their inner member swings. These trunnion portions 20 ends to a holder that is secured to the rim extend through the slots 18 and through the of the wheel and carry at their outer ends a loops 13', 14-, 15, said portions underlying the tread or non-skid member 6 which is adapted springs 18. This makes a pivotal connection for the arms 5 which allows the arms to be thrown from the full to the dotted line position F ig. 2 and vice versa and the springs 16 provide a yielding backing for the arms which permit them to yield vertically in case the foot member 6 strikes an obstacle in the road when the device is in use. The loops 13, 14 and 15 and the springs 16 constitute a mounting for the trunnions which allows the trunnions to yield inwardly in a radial direction. The non-skid member may thus have a bodily yielding movement inwardly in a radial direction if the tread portion of the non-skid member strikes an obstacle in the road squarely. 1

On the other hand, if the obstacle is struck at an angle then one or the other trunnions may yield so as to allow the non-skid member to assume a position determined by the character of the obstacle.

The arms 5 are shown as tied together by two tie members 21 and 22, said members serving to stiffen and strengthen the nonskid member.

23 indicates springs which are fastened at one end to the tie member 22 and at the other ends are connected to the positioning flange 10. Said springs thus yieldingly hold the non-skid member in its operative position as shown in full lines Fig. 2. The springs also function to yieldingly hold the non-skid member in its inoperative position when it is folded against the spokes as shown by dotted lines Fig. 2.

The tie member 9 which ties the sides 8 of the holder together is shown as having notches 24 in its front face situated to receive the springs 23 when the device is folded in its'inoperative position.

The foot member 6 may have any desired shape or configuration. It is herein shown as triangular in vertical section and as being provided on its tread face 25 with non-skid projections 26. The inner face of the foot member 6 is provided with grooves 27 in which the outer ends of the arm 5 are received and said arms are bent laterally as shown at 28 and extend through the foot and are either headed over at their ends or are provided with nuts for retaining the foot on the lower bent ends 28 of the arms.

The device is simple and inexpensive to make and can be easily installed on the wheel. When so installed it may be left thereon permanently.

For ordinary use of the automobile the nonskid members will be folded up against the spokes of the wheel as shown in dotted lines Fig. 2 and when in this position it will be entirely out of the way and will not interfere in any way with the ordinaryuse of the automobile. When it is desired to obtain the protection derived from the use of non-skid members then these members may simply be swung down from their inoperative position shown in dotted lines Fig. 2 to the operative position shown in full lines Fig. 2. lVhen in the. latter position the tread member 6 comes flush with the tread surface of the tire and as the wheel is rotated the tread members engage the road surface and thus perform their non-skid function. When the necessity for using the non-skid devices has passed the non-skid members can be easily and quickly thrown back into their inoperative position.

The shifting of the non-skid members from operative to inoperative position and vice versa does not require the use of any tools and can be performed with the foot if necessary so that they can be thrown into and out of action by any one without any danger of having ones clothes or hands soiled by the operation.

If desired, spring-retaining clips 29 may be attached to the wheel which embrace the sides of each non-skid member and serve as an additional means for retaining them in their inoperative position.

I claim:

1. In a non-skid device for an automobile wheel, the combination with a holder adapted to be attached to the automobile wheel adjacent the rim thereof, of a non-skid member having trunnions extending in a direction perpendicular to a radius of the wheel, mountings for the trunnions carried by the holder, whereby the non-skid member may be swung from operative position alongside of the tire to inoperative position against the spokes, said mountings permitting but resisting movement of the trunnions radially.

2. A non-skid device for an automobile wheel comprising a holder presenting two side members, each shaped to fit partially around a spoke of the wheel, means tying said side members together on both the inside and outside of the wheel, the outer ends of the side members being bent into loop formation, a spring within each loop, a cap enclosing each loop and spring, a non-skid member having trunnions extending through the loops and backed by said springs,.said non-skid member being adapted to be swung from operative position alongside of the tire to inoperative position lying against the wheel and means for iolding the non-skid member yieldingly in operative position.

3. A non-skid device for an automobile wheel, the combination with a holder adapted to be attached to the automobile wheel adjacent the rim thereof, of a non-skid member having two separated trunnions, mountings for said trunnions carried by the holder and in which mountings the trunnions may turn to allow the non-skid member to be swung from operative position alongside of the tire to inoperative position against the spokes, each mounting including a spring acting outwardly in a radial direction against the trunnion, whereby the trunnions may yield inwardly in a radial direction to permit inward bodily movement of the non-skid member and means for holding the non-skid member yieldingly in operative position.

4. A non-skid device for an automobile wheel, the combination with a holder adapted to be attached to the automobile wheel adjacent the rim thereof, of a non-skid member having as a part thereof two separated trunnions, a mounting carried by the holder for each trunnion, each mounting including a spring acting outwardly on the trunnion, said springs being independent from each other and each permitting but resisting inward yielding movement of its trunnion, whereby the non-skid member may yield bodily inwardly or either trunnion may yield separated to provide a yielding fore and aft swinging movement of the non-skid member.

5. In a non-skid device for an automobile wheel, the combination with a holder adapted to be attached to the automobile wheel adjacent the rim thereof, of a non-skid member having trunnions extending in a direction perpendicular to the radius of the wheel, mountings for the trunnions carried by the holder, whereby the non-skid member may be swung from operative position alongside of the tire to inoperative position against the spokes, said mountings permitting but resisting movement of the trunnions radially, and said non-skid member having a detachable tread member adapted to lie alongside of the tire at the tread portion thereof and provided with a tread surface in line with the tread surface of the tire.

6. A non-skid device for an automobile wheel comprising'a holder presenting two side members each adapted to fit a spoke of the wheel, two tie members connecting said side members, there being a tie member on each side of the wheel and one of the tie members having a positioning flange to engage the rim of the wheel, a non-skid member having trunnions extending in a direction perpendicular to the radius of the wheel, mountings for the trunnions carried by said holder, sald mountings comprising a sprlng acting on each trunnion, which springs permit the non-skid memher to yield bodily inwardly in a radial direction toward the center of the wheel and also permitting each trunnion to yield independently of the other trunnion in a radial direction.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

CHARLES E. OLAPP. 

